Boro travel to London still awaiting their first away win of the campaign after 12 league and cup games.

They had every chance of notching that elusive first win in the FA Cup last week, but conceded an equaliser six minutes after Mark Viduka had fired them in front.

Boro have recorded just two clean sheets on their travels during the campaign.

However, they have lost just one of their last five games and are edging ever closer towards the level of consistency that manager Gareth Southgate is demanding.

They started this five-match run by beating Charlton by 2-0 at the Riverside, winning comfortably, though the doomed Les Reed was in charge of the Addicks at that time.

Know the form: Charlton>

New boss Alan Pardew has notched one win and a draw from his first four games in charge at Charlton.

Both results came at The Valley, the Addicks taking a point from a draw against Fulham and then beating Aston Villa.

They came down to Earth soundly at Arsenal when young right-back Osei Sankofa was sent off and the 10 men were crushed 4-0.

This was followed by last week's humiliating FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Pardew's task of keeping Charlton in the Premiership is made all the more difficult by the loss of top scorer Darren Bent for several weeks with a knee injury.

It puts added responsibility on the shoulders of former Boro hot shot Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

What we say about them>

Bernie Slaven: "Boro must be ready for a bit of trench warfare because it's going to be mighty tough at The Valley.

"They can forget about playing football, certainly at the start of the game, because they'll get no time on the ball.

"This is a massive game for us, but for Charlton it could decide whether they stay up or not.

"They know that beating Boro can make all the difference to them and they'll be geed up.

"Judging by our away form I'd say that a draw would be the best result we can expect, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to win it.

"The three points would not only give Charlton no chance of catching us, but leave us just three or four wins from safety."

What they say about us>

Bryan Hughes said: "I'm sure we'll see a different Charlton against Middlesbrough.

"The mood in the camp has been great despite the setback in the cup. Everyone knows what we are about and what we are trying to achieve.

"We are just trying to get up the table and we will all keep working to the end of the season to hopefully succeed.

"We have shown what we can do by sticking together in the last couple of league games at The Valley, and also for spells against Arsenal.

"If we keep doing the things which have been getting us results, then hopefully we will be okay.

"The gaffer has been upping the work rate in the team - there is a lot of desire and passion."

Player spotlight: Boro>

Jonathan Woodgate is fully fit again and back to strengthen the Boro defence.

The England international has shaken off the knock which forced him out of the cup tie at Hull City. Woodgate will come in at the heart of defence, while Mark Schwarzer has recovered from a back spasm and will also return.

Andrew Davies has been in full training since last week so Gareth Southgate is handed more options than for any other match in recent weeks.

It means Southgate can play any formation he likes, though the orthodox 4-4-2 has been the favoured system in Boro's last three games.

However, Boro started with five across the middle at Everton on Boxing Day and earned a goalless draw.

Player spotlight : Charlton>

Charlton unveiled new signing Zheng Zhi this week, snapped up Ben Thatcher from Manchester City yesterday and sold Djimi Traore to Portsmouth.

Chinese international captain Zhi, who can play either in defence or midfield, has arrived at The Valley on loan.

He is not expected to start tomorrow, but Thatcher should make his Addicks debut He is a straight replacement for Mali international Traore, who has moved to Portsmouth.

Goalkeeper Scott Carson will return in place of Thomas Myhre, but right-back Osei Sankofa is suspended and leading scorer Darren Bent has a knee injury.

Defenders Hermann Hreidarsson (tendonitis) and Luke Young (knee) and midfielder Andy Reid (hamstring) may not be ready to return.

Things they'd rather forget>

Charlton must certainly regret appealing against Osei Sankofa's red card at Arsenal on January 2.

At a FA disciplinary commission hearing, Sankofa had his claim for wrongful dismissal rejected.

The FA ordered Sankofa to serve a one-match suspension with immediate effect as a result of the dismissal, which forced him out of last weekend's FA cup tie at Nottingham Forest.

To make matters worse, the commission also decided that the claim was frivolous and handed Sankofa an additional one-match ban, which sidelines him again tomorrow.

Another thing that Charlton quite clearly regret is handing the managerial reins to Les Reed. He lasted just eight matches before Alan Pardew took over.

Beat the bookies>

Boro are 8/5 with bookmakers Ladbrokes to record their first away win of the campaign at The Valley.

A 1-0 win is 7/1 while fans who fancy a repeat of Boro's 2-1 win from two seasons ago can get odds of 9/1.

Boro forced a goalless draw at Charlton in the FA Cup last season and this is on offer at 8/1, while a 1-1 draw is 11/2.

Boro have lost four of their last visits to The Valley by one goal. The Addicks are 7/1 to win 1-0 and 8/1 to win 2-1.

The last time the teams met was in last season's cup replay at the Riverside when Boro won 4-2.

Fans expecting lightning to strike twice can get odds of 80/1 for Boro to win by this scoreline, or 66/1 for Charlton to avenge the 4-2 win.